How should products containing DEET be used on children?
A. The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended using products with a low concentration of DEET, 10% or less, on children aged 2 to 12. Always follow the recommendations appearing on the product label when using repellent. • When using repellent on a child, apply it to your own hands and then rub them on your child. Avoid children’s eyes and mouth and use it sparingly around their ears. • Do not apply repellent to children’s hands. (Children tend to put their hands in their mouths.) • Do not allow young children to apply insect repellent to themselves; have an adult do it for them. Keep repellents out of reach of children. • Do not apply repellent to skin under clothing. If repellent is applied to clothing, wash treated clothing before wearing again. Using repellents on the skin is not the only way to avoid mosquito bites. Children and adults can wear clothing with long pants and long sleeves while outdoors. DEET or other repellents can also be applied to clothing, as mosquitoes
According to the CDC, no definitive studies exist in the scientific literature about what concentration of DEET is safe for children; however, no serious illness has arisen from use of DEET when used according the manufacturer’s recommendations. Repellents containing a higher concentration of active ingredient (such as DEET) provide longer-lasting protection. Products with a lower concentration of DEET (4.75% – 10%) may be appropriate for situations where exposure to mosquitoes is minimal. Higher concentrations of DEET (11-30%) may be useful in highly infested areas or with species that are more difficult to repel. Parents should choose the type and concentration of repellent to be used by taking into account the amount of time that a child will be outdoors, their likelihood of exposure to mosquitoes, and the risk of mosquito-transmitted disease in the area. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that repellents used on infants and children should not contain more than 30% DEET
A. No definitive studies exist in the scientific literature about what concentration of DEET is safe for children. No serious illness has arisen from use of DEET when used according the manufacturer’s recommendations. The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that a cautious approach is to use products with a low concentration of DEET, 10% or less, on children aged 2 – 12. Most guidelines cite that it is acceptable to use repellents containing DEET on children over 2 years of age. Other experts suggest that it is acceptable to apply repellent with low concentrations of DEET to infants over 2 months old. Repellent products that do not contain DEET are not likely to offer the same degree of protection from mosquito bites as products containing DEET. Non-DEET repellents have not necessarily been as thoroughly studied as DEET, and may not be safer for use on children. Parents should choose the type and concentration of repellent to be used by taking into account the amount of time
